The Switzerland County boys cross country team competed as a team in Saturday’s Greensburg Regional; while Lady Pacer Amber Meli earned her way into the Regional meet by placing in the top 15 in the South Dearborn Sectional.
All Switzerland County runners did an outstanding job, especially considering the strong field of teams that had been placed in the Greensburg Regional.
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In the girls race, Amber Meli placed 40th overall in a time of 21:17 – a personal best time by almost 18-seconds, but still not enough to rank her in the top 15 in such a strong field of runners.
“Amber ran a personal best, but it wasn’t enough to move her on to next weekend,” Coach Mark Boggs said. “She completed a great sophomore season and will look to improve her performance next year.”
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The boys team was not only looking to advance individual runners, but was also aiming to finish in the top five in the team standings – which would advance the entire team to the semistate.
The Pacers fell just short of that goal, finishing sixth as a team with a total of 156 points. That total was just four points behind fifth place Columbus East; and just six points shy of fourth place Greenwood. Those two teams advanced, along with Regional champion Franklin; second place Center Grove; and third place Columbus North.
Switzerland County did advance junior Clay Meyer, who finished seventh overall and now moves on to the semistate as an individual. He ran a regional time of 16:22.
Other Pacer runners included Corey McFarland, who finished 26th in a time of 17:19; Tray Meyer, 27th in a time of 17:21; Josh Hon, 48th in a time of 18:11; Tanner Ross, 67th in a time of 19:33; Zach O’Neal, 69th in a time of 19:57; and Bradlee Burk, 75th in a time of 22:12.
“The boys came up short, but the heart that they displayed in the Regional was outstanding. We knew coming in that this regional was one of the toughest in the state. The boys showed strength and determination against schools that are much bigger than ours.”